Pokémon Sun/Moon: Alola Forms and Island Challenge!

Only two weeks have passed since we received the last update on Game Freak’s highly anticipated Nintendo 3DS RPG pair, Pokémon Sun/Moon, which are due for worldwide release this November, but in a brand new video shared by The Pokémon Company International this afternoon, we have learned more exciting details about the upcoming game.

Island Challenges:

First off, is the exciting news that the upcoming pair will may notfeature the traditional badge quest that has been a staple of the series for the past twenty years; although the apparent replacement is pretty similar. Young trainers in the Alola Region must take part in the Island Challenge – journeying across the four islands of Alola and completing a series of trials that can take on a number of different forms, such as finding items, knowledge tests and of course, battling. At the end of each trial, a trainer will have to take on the Totem Pokémon; a much larger and stronger variant of its species that can summon allies.

Trainers taking part in the trials will be assisted by that particular island’s Captain, an accomplished trailer who overcame that same challenge years before. The four captains are:

Lana is dedicated both to her family and Water-type Pokémon; being a reliable older sister who watches over her younger sisters.

Mallow is a Grass-type expert and loves cooking, although she is known to have a peculiar taste.

Sophocles is a renowned mechanic and inventor, as well as an Electric-type expert.

Kiawe is a Fire-type expert who studies the traditional dances of the Alola Region with his Marowak.

The final trial of each island is known as the Grand Trial, where trainers must battle the “Kahuna” – an island’s leader chosen by its respective guardian deity. Defeating a Kahuna will result in public renown and permission to challenge the next island. The previously revealed character Hala, is the kahuna of Melemele Island and your rival’s grandfather.

Z-Ring & Z-Moves:

Battles in Sun/Moon will be shaken up with the introduction of Z-Moves; special attacks symbolising the bond between trainer and Pokémon that can only be used once per battle. Every Pokémon is capable of using a Z-Move, but a trainer will need both the Z-Ring and Z-Crystal key items to use them.

TOMY International will be releasing a replica of the Z-Ring that players can wear on their wrist. When a player uses a Z-Move in their game, the replica will light up and play sounds to go along with the game!

Poké Ride:

An expansion of a feature first introduced in X/Y, trainers will be able to ride certain Pokémon in order to reach areas that are otherwise inaccessible. Like with the Eon Flute in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, these Pokémon do not have to be in the player’s party and can be called upon at any time.

Alola Forms:

First off, existing Pokémon found within the Alola Region will be influenced by the climate in new and interesting ways, resulting in Alola Forms with both unique appearances and typings:Name: Alolan Exeggutor
Type: Grass/Dragon
Unlike other Exeggutor, the Alolan Exeggutor has a fourth head—on its tail! This fourth head controls the tail independently and can take on opponents to the rear that can’t be reached by the main heads’ attacks.

Name: Alolan Vulpix
Type: Ice
It is said that Vulpix came to the Alola region together with humans, but the Fox Pokémon moved to the snowy mountain peaks to avoid the normal habitats of other Pokémon, and thus it ended up taking on this form.

Name: Alolan Ninetales
Type: Ice/Fairy
Alolan Ninetales is able to produce ice crystals from the fur that covers its body. It can use these ice crystals to block attacks, or it can form balls of ice, which it fires like bullets at opponents. These ice missiles have enough power to pulverize rock.

Name: Alolan Sandshrew
Type: Ice/Steel
Sandshrew have historically lived in desert areas, but the frequent eruptions of nearby volcanoes drove the them to abandon the desert and migrate to snowy mountains where they took on this form.

Name: Alolan Sandslash
Type: Ice/Steel
The Alolan Sandshrew of the snowy mountains evolve into Alolan Sandslash with spiny backs that are covered in ice. Alolan Sandslash hide themselves in the snow when strong enemies appear, leaving only their needles exposed and ready for business.

New Species:

As is to be expected now, a number of brand new Pokémon species unique to the Alola Region have also been revealed, including some evolutionary relatives of previously seen species.

Name: Gumshoos
Type: Normal
Gumshoos is the Evolution of Yungoos. It will call on Yungoos allies and stand in the way of trial-goers.

Name: Mudbray
Type: Ground
The pre-evolved form of Mudsdale, Mudbray could once be found all over the world, but it became endangered and is now a protected species. It’s said that the Alola region is the only place in the world where Mudbray can still be found in the wild.

Name: Fomantis
Type: Grass
Fomantis is nocturnal, and it performs photosynthesis while it sleeps during the day by spreading out its leaves in all directions. Because of the danger of staying in the same location two days in a row, Fomantis begins its search for the next day’s spot as soon as the sun sets

Name: Lurantis
Type: Grass
Lurantis draws opponents near to itself with its flowerlike appearance and aroma—and then it takes them down. It’s said to be the most gorgeous of all Grass-type Pokémon, due to its brilliant coloration and elegant moves.

Name: Oricorio
Oricorio changes its form by sipping the nectar of certain flowers. Since it has four different forms—the same as the number of islands in Alola—it would seem that different Oricorio live on each of the islands.

Baile Style
Type: Fire/Flying
The Baile Style Oricorio is very passionate and power fills its body when it dances. It sends downy fluff flying during its intense dances.

Pom-Pom Style
Type: Electric/Flying
The Pom-Pom Style Oricorio is very friendly toward people, and it uses dancing to encourage Trainers who are feeling glum. When it dances, its feathers are charged with static electricity.

Pa’u Style
Type: Psychic/Flying
The Pa’u Style Oricorio acts at its own pace, which sometimes makes it difficult to deal with. It sharpens its spirited moves through dance, which increases its psychic power.

Sensu Style
Type: Ghost/Flying
The Sensu Style Oricorio is quiet and collected. By means of its dance, it gathers the spirits drifting about in an area and borrows their power to fight.

Name:Minior
Type: Rock/Flying
Minior are formed in the stratosphere and live by absorbing the detritus around them. When they’ve consumed a large quantity of particles, their bodies become heavy, and they fall toward the planet’s surface. Minior has a hard and heavy outer shell with a core within.

Pokémon Sun/Moon will be released exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS worldwide on 21st November 2016, except in Europe, where it will be be available from 28th November.

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